Stacker



May 29,- 1934. H. s. LABOMBARDE STACKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7. 1931 l 00 1 F I-I41 1 8 W m m m M m u m I N VEN TOR. HAROLD 5. 16145017511505.

A TTORNEYS.

y H. s. LABOMBARDE 1,960,311

STAGKER Filed July 7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. YA/{0L0 a LA 5 0/75/15 55.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 29, 1934 PATENT OFFICE,

STAGKER,

Harold S. Labombarde, Nashua, N. H., assignor to The International Paper Box Machine Company, Nashua, N. H.,

a corporation of Maine Application July 7, 1931, Serial No. 549,140

22 Claims.

My invention relates in part to the delivery of stacked cartons from inclined position to a stacked position on edge.

When blanks have been stacked as, for example, in the horizontal stacker of the folding and gluing machine of U. 3. Letters Patent No. 1,580,612 dated April 13, 1926, they are stacked inclined in a travelling pile. In stacking blanks in this way where the blanks are narrow crosswise of the direction of feed and where the material is usually springy the pile has a tendency to fall over if it is builtup to the height required for easy handling at high speed. The result is that the machine will be slowed up.

A feature of my invention is means for tipping inclined blanks, whether stacked or not, to one a side as the blanks are fed and then stacking them on edge crosswise of the direction of feed.

Another feature is two conveyors acting one after the other to carry blanks, the conveyor in advance moving at a slower speed than the other conveyor, the advance conveyor acting to slow up the travelling pile and make it more condensed while allowing the most efiicient speed for stacking the blanks, whether the blanks are tipped on edge before reaching the advance conveyor or not, an important advantage being that the relatively slow speed of the advance conveyor gives more time for setting of the glue and for efficient handling and removal of the pile.

Another feature is the use with said two conveyors of a stationary platform located between said conveyors to slow up the stacked pile.

Another feature is a roller to tip the conveyor. Another feature is a special form of tipping means consisting of a member having two arms at a right angle to each other, the arms carrying rollers to engage the under side of a. conveyor,

said member being slidable crosswise of the machine to bring one or the other, as desired, of said arms into operative position.

The other features will be pointed out below. In the drawings a Figure 1 is a partial plan of a stacker embodying my invention; 1

Figure 2 is an elevation of thesame; Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1; and i Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of, the tipping mechanism described below. I i The folded and glued blanks are fed in stacked and inclined condition between belts 1 and 2, the

blanks having been stacked by any suitable stacker such as that shown in Patent No. 1,580,612 dated April 13, 1926. Belt l engages pulley 3 and may be actuated by any suitable mechanism. vxBelt or conveyor 2 is relatively broad and conveys the blanks forward from beneath belt 1. Belt 2 is tipped upwardly at the left, in the adjustment shown, of the direction of the feed, this resulting in tipping and guiding the blanks to the right of the direction of feed, one end of each blank coming up against the vertical guide 4 with the result that the blanks, under the forwarding action of the tipped portion of belt 2,are brought into a vertical position on edge, one behind the other and crosswise of the direction of feed. Belt 2 conveys the blanks to fixed platform 5 which slows up the advance of the blanks, which, after passing along on edge over the platform 5, are received on another conveying belt 6 which moves at a speed slower than the speed of belt 2, the blanks being guided by the vertical guiding wall 4. This slower speed is due to the arrangement of gearing shown clearly in Figure 2. Canvas belt 2 drives pulley 7 fixed to shaft 8, to which is fixed gear 9, the latter, through idler 10, operating gear 11, which is fixed to shaft 12, the latter being fixed to pulley 13 which drives belt 6. The shafts 8 and 12 may be mounted as shown or in any other suitable way.

The platform 5 has slots to receive pins 14 and 15, which are fixed on the supports 16 for the shafts 8 and 12, these supports being mounted to be adjusted along supporting rods 17 and 18, this adjustment being to take care of stretch of the belts.

. The platform 5 will normally rest with its bevelled edges on conveyors 2 and 6 so that no blank will catch on the platform but if any abnormal thickness of canvas is presented to the platform the latter may rise on said pins but will be held against transverse and longitudinal movement by the pins.

In order to tip the belt, as above referred to, I preferably provide a cross bar 19 upon which is adjustably clamped a holder 20 which has a slot 21 to receive rod 22 upon which a roller 23 is mounted to rotate, said roller being held against longitudinal movement by collars 24 and 25, the

collars being held by set screws to rod 22, the roller avoiding. drag and wear on the inside of the canvas belt. Rod 22 is held in holder 20 by set screw 26. Rod 22 may be extended at a right angle and carry a similar roller 27 and this roller 27 may be used to tip the belt 2 up at shown in Figure 1, assume crosswise and more or wise of the direction being supported partly less vertical positions, each blank being forced by those behind-it and by the tilted portion of belt 2 against guide 4 so that just after reaching stationary platform 5 each blank is vertical and on edge and extends crosswise of the direction of feed. The platform being stationary slows up the feed so that the blanks which are now stacked on edge are condensed into a vertical stack which is then pushed forward across the platform, the stack being guided by guide 4, and when the stack leaves platform 5 it is conveyed forward by belt 6-which has a slower speed than the speed of belt 2 and consequently the stack will maintain its vertical and condensed form and be advanced by belt 6. As the blanks are carried forward by belt 6 they are moving relatively slowly, they are in a compact stack and they are on edge, all three of these features contributing outstandingly to the ease and speed of removal of the blanks from belt 6 by the operator.

An important feature of my present invention is that with it I may retain the advantage of using a counter such as is shown in my Patent No. 1,488,688 dated April 1, 1924, the blanks such as 30 having been kicked out by thecounter from the path of travel and remaining in kicked out position during the tipping and condensing. It will be understood that the blanks, such as 30, should be kicked out crosswise of the direction of travel and toward that side of the belt whichis tipped up.

What I claim is:

1. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance blanks in inclined and overlapped position, each blankbeing supported partly by its rear edge engaging said means, said edge extending substantially crossf travel and each blank y the preceding blank; and means extending into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from,

and crosswise of, said path to tip the blanks bodily, each in contact with the adjacent blank, from said inclined position to a position resting on an edge of the blank, the latter edge being other than the first-mentioned edge; and means to receive the blanks from the advancing means and acting to condense the blanks as they leave the advancing means.

2. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance blanks in inclined and overlapped position, each blank 'being'supported partly on an edge which extends substantially crosswise of the direction of travel and supported partly by the-preceding blank; means extending into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip the blanks bodily, each in contact with the adjacent blank, from said inclined position to a position resting on an edge of the blank, the latter edge being other than the firstmentioned edge; and means to advance the blanks in their stacked position on edge; and means to receive the blanks from-the advancing means and acting to condense the blanks as they leave the advancing means.

3. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance blanks in inclinedand overlapped position, each blank being supported partly on an edge which extends substantially crosswise of the direction of traveland supported partly by the preceding blank; means extending only partially into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip the blanks bodily, each in contact with the adjacent blank, from said inclined position to a position resting on an edge of the blank, the latter edge being other than the first-mentioned edge; means to advance the blanks in their stacked position on edge; nd means to receive the blanks from the advancing means and acting to condense the stack while the latter is being advanced on edge.

4. A mechanism of the character described comprising a belt for conveying overlapped blanks in inclined position; and means for lifting an edge of the belt to tip' the blanks bodily while stacked from the inclined position to a position on edge and crosswise of the direction 93 of movement of the belt; and means to receive the blanks from the belt and actingto condense the blanks as they leave the belt.

5. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance overlapped blanks 130 in inclined position; and means extending into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip each blank bodily in its overlapped position from said inclined position to a position resting on one edge of the blank, said edge extending substantially parallel with said path when the tipping begins but extending substantially crosswise of said path when the blank has been tipped; means to advance the blanks in their position on edge; and means to receive the blanks from the advancing means and acting to condense the stack of blanks as it is advanced on edge.

'6. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance overlapped blanks in inclined position at a certain speed; and means extending into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip each blank bodily in its overlapped position from said inclined position to a position 12 1 resting on one edge of the blank, said edge extending substantially parallel with said path when the tippingbegins'but extending substantially crosswise of said path when the blank has been tipped; a conveyor to receive the blanks from the advancing means in their position on edge; and means to move said conveyor in'the same direction as the first conveyor but at a speed slower than the speed at which the blanks are advanced by said advancing means, said conveyor acting to keep the blanks under pressure and to condense them as they leave the advancing means.

- '7. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to fold, glue and overlap blanks; means to advance said overlapped blanks 5 in inclined position; and means extending into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip the blanks bodily while overlapped from said inclined position to a position resting on one edge of the blank, said edge extending substantially parallel with said path when the tipping begins but extending substantially crosswise of said path when the blank has been tipped; and means to receive the blanks from the advancing means and acting to keep the blanks under pressure and to condense them as they leave the advancing means.

8. A? mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance overlapped blanks in inclined position; means extending into the path of the advanacing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip the blanks bodily while overlapped from said inclined position to a position resting on one edge of the blank, said edge extending substantially parallel with said path when the tipping begins but extending substantially crosswise of said path when the blank has been tipped; and a side guide to even up the tipped blanks; and means to receive the blanks from the advancing means and acting to keep the blanks under pressure and to condense them as they leave the advancing means.

9. A mechanism of the character described comprising a conveyor for conveying overlapped blanks in inclined position; and a member engaging the under side of the conveyor and tipping the latter to shift the blanks from said inclined position into position on edge and crosswise of the direction of movement of the conveyor while the blanks are moving in overlapped condition on the conveyor; and means to receive the blanks from the conveyor and acting to keep the blanks under pressure and to condense them as they leave the conveyor.

10. A mechanism of the character described comprising a conveyor for conveying overlapped blanks in inclined position; and a roller engaging the under side of the conveyor and tipping the latter to shift the blanks from said inclined position into position on edge and crosswise of the direction of movement of the conveyor while the blanks are moving in overlapped condition on the conveyor; and means to receive the blanks 'from edge of the belt to tip the blanks from said inclined position into position on edge while the blanks are travelling in overlapped condition on the belt, said lifting means comprising a member having two arms at a right angle to each other, and a roller on each of said arms; and a rod extending across the mechanism, upon which the lifting means is slidable to permit one roller to be operative to lift the belt at one side thereof or the other roller to be operative to lift the belt at the other side thereof; and means to receive the blanks from the belt and acting to keep the blanks under pressure and to condense them as they leave the belt.

12. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance overlapped blanks in inclined position; and means extending into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip the blanks bodily while overlapped from said inclined position to a position resting on one edge of the blank, said edge extending substantially parallel with said path when the tipping begins but extending substantially crosswise of said path when the blank has been tipped; and means to.

the blanks bodily while overlapped through sub-* stantially about an axis which extends,

throughout the turning, in the general direction of travel of the blanks.

14. A mechanism of the character described I means and acting to condense the blanks as they leave the advancing means.

15. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance overlapped blanks in inclined position; and means extending into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip the blanks bodily while overlapped from said inclined position to a position resting on one edge of the blank, said edge extending substantially parallel with said path when the tipping begins but extending substantially crosswise of said path when the blank has been tipped; means to advance the blanks in their position on edge; and means to receive the blanks from the advancing means and acting to condense the blanks as they leave the advancing means on edge.

16. Amechanism of the character described comprising means to advance overlapped blanks in inclined position; means extending into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip the blanks bodily while overlapped from said inclined position to a position resting on one edge of the blank, said edge extending substantially parallel with said path when the tipping begins but extending substantially crosswise of said path when the blank has been tipped; a fixed side member against which the blanks engage during the latter portion of said tipping; and means to receive the blanks on edge from said advancing means and acting to keep the blanksunder pressame direction as the first conveyor but at a speed slower than the speed of the first conveyor to condense the stack of blanks and to keep .the blanks under pressure as they leave the first conveyor.

18. A mechanism of the character described comprising means for folding, gluing and overlapping blanks; a conveyor for said overlapped blanks in inclined position; means to move said conveyor; means to tip said blanks into position on edge while conveyed by said conveyor; a second conveyor to receive the blanks in stacked condition on edge after they leave the first conveyor; a platform to bridge the gapbetween'said conveyors and keep the blanks under pressure and in stacked condition on-edge; and means to move the second conveyor in the same direction'as the first conveyor but at a speed slower than the speed of the first conveyor to condense the stack of blanks and to keep the stack under pressure.

19. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance overlapped blanks in inclined position at a certain speed; and means extending into the path of the advancing blanks and extending upwardly from, and crosswise of, said path to tip each blank bodily in its overlapped position from said inclined position to a position resting on one edge of the blank, said edge extending substantially parallel with said path when the tipping begins but extending substantially crosswise of said path when the blank has been tipped; a conveyor to receive the blanks in stacked condition on edge; a stationary platform to bridge the gap between said advancing means and said conveyor and acting to keep the blanks under pressure and in stacked condition on edge; and means to move the conveyor in the same direction as the advancing means but at a speed slower than the speed of the advancing means to condense the stack of blanks and to keep the stack under pressure.

20. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance blanks in overlapped and inclined position; and means in, and extending crosswise of, the path of the advancing blanks and located intermediate of the ends of said advancing means,.said intermediate means and said advancing means cooperating to turn the blanks bodily, while overlapped and while advancing, through substantially 90, about an axis which extends, throughout the turning, in the'general direction of travel of the blanks so that after such turning each blank has an edge extending crosswise of the path of the blanks, which edge extended, prior to the turning longitudinally of said path.

21. A mechanism of the character described comprising means to advance blanks in overlapped and inclined position; and means in, and. extending crosswise of, the path of the advancing blanks and located intermediate of the ends of said advancing means, said intermediate means and said advancing means cooperating to turn the blanks bodily, while overlapped and while advancing, through substantially 90, about an axis which extends, throughout the turning, in the general direction of travel of the blanks so that after such turning each blank has an edge extending crosswise of the path of the blanks, which edge extended, prior to the turning, longitudinally of said path, said advancing means acting also to advance the blanks after such turning in the same general direction as before the turning with each blank in contact with the adjacent blank.

22. A mechanism of the character described comprising a belt to advance blanks'in overlapped and inclined position; and a roller engaging the underside of the belt and located to tip upwardly a portion of the belt and located intermediate of the ends of the belt, the roller and the belt coop- 

